FEATURES SUMMARY

• Annual fee: $30 (waived in first year)
• Purchase rate: 19.45% p.a.
• Cash Advance rate: 19.45% p.a.
• Balance Transfer rate: N/A
• Interest-free days: Up to 55

• Extras:
  • Apply online
  • 24hr phone assistance
  • Emergency card replacement
  • Visa Entertainment
  • Phone/Internet banking
  • Enhanced security chip protection

Westpac’s Student Credit Card is a good card for those who need a credit card with a low limit. With this credit card you can choose your limit –$300, $400 or $500.

That way you can’t max it out to an unaffordable amount, so it really will just be there in your wallet for cash emergencies.

As it is a credit card you will be subject to credit history checks and other credit approval criteria. However Westpac will take into account the fact that you will most likely not be working full time and could be moving around quite a bit so your address will change quite often.

Your approval will be based on whatever income it is that you receive, whether it be from Austudy or from a part/time/casual job. While this helps with approval, when you have the card, it doesn’t quite measure up to the Commonwealth student credit card (the only other student-specific credit card on the market).

Westpac’s student card has a $30 annual fee which is wiped in the first year (as opposed to Commonwealth’s $0 throughout your years of study) and an interest rate of 19.45% p.a.* for both purchases and cash advances. Yet there are no balance transfers available, which is another major downfall when comparing the two student credit cards.

Despite having a lower cash advance rate, the Westpac student credit card comes off second best to our first place getter (the Commonwealth student credit card) thanks to its annual fee and the omission of balance transfers.

If you think you may have trouble getting a credit card due to a lack of credit history then this card is definitely a good option. But if you’re looking to save money with a cheap credit card then the Bankwest Zero MasterCard is much more affordable option.

See all our top credit card picks in the Editor’s Choice category

Commonwealth is one of only a few Australian banks to offer debit cards through the MasterCard facility. The debit card is available in two Commonwealth bank accounts – the Smart Access account and the Complete Access account, and can be used in conjunction with Commonwealth bank’s Student Options.

The Smart Access account fee is $4 per month, which gives you unlimited access to electronic transactions through Commonwealth bank. The Complete access account offers a wee bit more, with unlimited branch withdrawals, teller-assisted cheques and phone banking, plus unlimited electronic Commonwealth electronic transfers for a monthly fee of $6.

There are a wide variety of ways in which the monthly fee for the Commonwealth Debit MasterCard can be waived, including (but not limited to) being a Commonwealth bank home loan customer, receiving an Australian War Veterans or Aged pension, or if you are a full time student.

No matter which account you choose, you’ll gain automatic access to MasterCard Applause. With this service up your sleeve, live events, concerts, ticket-pre-sales, discounts, and special events are all at your disposal so you’ll never miss out.

With secure chip technology for your protection, and access to Australia’s largest banking network, Commonwealth’s Debit MasterCard is a secure, convenient and straightforward alternative to credit cards.

See our top credit card picks in the Editor’s Choice category

FEATURES SUMMARY

• Monthly Fee: $0
• Free account access:
  • Eftpos
  • Phone/Internet banking
  • ANZ / Bankwest / Commonwealth / NAB / Westpac ATMs

• Extras:
  • Choice of six card colours
  • MasterCard Applause
  • Australia Post Bank@Post service

Want a debit card with no fees? Well then you’ve come to the right place.

With no fees attached the Bankwest MasterCard debit card, it is one of a select few front-runners in the Australian debit card market, and is the 3rd place holder of all the cards vying for the title of Editor’s Choice in the Debit card category..

To get a Bankwest MasterCard you must first open a Bankwest account. Your debit card can be linked to any Bankwest transaction account, so you’ve got the freedom of choice teamed up with the freedom to purchase, without the monthly bill!

This card is perfect for students when teamed up with Bankwest’s Student account. All your electronic banking transactions are free and your account is so easy to manage with 24/7 online banking.

In addition to $0 in fees, another massive draw card for this debit card is that its provider, Bankwest, is now part of Australia’s biggest ATM network. This means that it can be used at a number of Australian bank’s ATM’s free of charge. These banks include Bankwest, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, NAB, Westpac and St George.

Being part of the MasterCard network, all Bankwest debit card holders have access to MasterCard’s applause service which gives exclusive entertainment benefits including one off events created especially for MasterCard debit card holders.

Unfortunately for fans of Bankwest, you can’t apply for this card online so you’ll have to make a trip to the bank to get yourself one.

See all our top credit card picks in the Editor’s Choice category